Starting mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



H. M. HALLSWORTH. vSTAR'IING MBGHANISM FOR INTBRNALUOMBUSTION ENGINES. v APPpI'oATIIoN HLED AUG; i9, 1910. i 989,963, Patented Apr.18, 1911.

2 SHEBTB-BHEET 1.

7M-emp H. M. HALLSWORTH.- Y STARTING MEUHANISMPORVINTBRNAL ooMUsTIoN ENGINES. 4

' APPLICATION TILEU IAUG. 19, 1910. l

Patented Aprf1l8, 1.911.

Hnnnnnr M. HALLswonTIL'or RIVERSIDE, iLLINoIs.

STARTING- IVIECHANISM v.'ttiIR, INTERNAL-:COMBUSTIN ENGINES.

Patented npr.. 18,1911.

Application filed August 19, 1910. sel-'iai No. 577,926;

To all whom it may concern: i Y

Be lit known that IAIFIERJ3ERTM'. HALLS- WORTH, a subject ofthe King of England, re-

siding at Riverside, in the county of Cook andI State of Illinois, 'have invented anew j anduseful Improvement in Startingv Mechanism for Internal-Gombustion Engines, of

which the' followinwis` a specification.

My invention relnates to improvements in devices"employed Ain connection; with internal combustion engines for starting the' lat- Vter .through themediumof compressed fluid- .pressure whereby manual cranking ofthe engine is'avoided; and lmy objects, ,generally stated, are to provide a simple and economlcal constru'ctionof starting mechanism of `the character above referred to. which will be positive inoperation and which, when the, engine is normal-ly operating, will: not be subjected to wear of its parts'.

A further object is to provide aconstruc-y tionv of starter which-may bev readily applied to existing engines without necessitating the remodeling or reconstruction of the.

parts ofthe iatter, anda still further object is to generally improve upon starting devices ashithe'rto providedfto the end of i rendering them better `adapted for perform- .ing their functionsf j Y rReferring to the accompanying drawings- Fio'ure 1 shows b a v1ew` 1n side elevation t: 7 y i a a portion of an automobile providedwith,

a (S-cylinder engine equippedvwith starting mechanism 'constructed in accordance with my invention, the parts of theautomobile illustrated beingshown in section.- Fig. 2 isan enlarged sectiony taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1, this view showing the internal construction of one of they 'plurality of similar valves for controlling the flow' o-f fluid-presy sure to the cylinders,.one of each of which valves is provided for each cylinder. Fig. 3 is a view in sectional elevation of checkvalve. mechanism in thev conduits leading from'a compression-tanlcand one of the valves illust-rated in Fig. 2 to one of the cylinders.' Fig, 4 is an enlarged sectionl taken at the line 4 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig..5 is a section taken at the line 5 on Fig. 4 and-viewed in the/direction of the arrow ;A and AFig.` 6, a section 'taken atthe line 6 on Fig. 4 yand viewed in the direction of the arrow, with 'certain parts of the 'operating mechanisml broken away to better disclose details.

The floor of an automobile adjacent tothe front seat thereofisrepresented at 10, and the dash-board at l1, .the hood for the engine being shown at y12,. f l

Thel engine' in connection with which I 'have chosen to illustrate my -invention is of the 6-cylinder type comprising cylinders 13 to18 inclusive, which are adapted toreceive i their impulses in regular succession as is well understood in the art.. The stems of the vertically reciprocable' exhaust-valves as commonly provided in lengines of this class, are represented at 19, and arev adapted to be successivelyoperated in a well-'known manner from cams 20 arranged in varying posi- .tions on a drive-shaft 21, one only of which cams is illustrated. The stems of the inletvvalves of' the Iengine illustrated are represented at 22 and are vof the mechanicallyoperated ty le,V being successively operated by cams `(nv t shown) carriedr on theshaft 23, the engine as above described being of vusual construction-and operating in a well known manner under the action of combustible gases introduced intothe engine-cylinfders.

Located at any vconvenient point on the car is a tank24, this tank communicating.

with a pipe 25 which-is coupled at'26 to a :pipe 27, the lower endl of which terminates in a manifold 28, the upwardly-extending branch-pipes of which are represented at 29.

The upper-end ofthe; pipe 27 leads into a T- coupler 30 which is'connected with a pipe 31 opening at one end into a '3-way valvecontrolled pet-cock and v'primer 32 communieating with the interior of the 'cylinder 13 above the piston therein (not shown), the connection at the'o'ther end of the pipe 3l being 4hereinafter described;

Secured 'to one side of the crank-casing 33 f of the engine at one side thereof is a bracketmember' 34 carrying a plurality'of valves A35, one of such valves being positioned dientirely through it and .opens through `the p valve-seat 36,. as illustrated in Fig. 2. The

branch-pipes 29 which are of a number corresponding tothe number of valves 35, communicate at theirupper ends with the lower ends'of the conduits 40 of the'respective valves, and the upper ends of the conduits 40 of the valves 35 opposite to the cylinders 13 to -17 inclusive communicate` with .the pi es-41, and the valve 35 opposite the cyliner 18 with the lower end of the pipe 31, the pipes 41 from each of the valves 35 communicating with the interior of the cylinders next in advance thereof as illustrated in the drawings, namely the pipe 41 leading from the valve opposite .cylinder 13 communicates with the interior of the cylinder 14,

fthepipe 41 from the valve 35 opposite cylinder 14 communicates with the interior of the'cylinder 15, and so on throughout the series of cylinders, the pipe 31 communicating with the interiorof the cylinder 13.

Fulcrumed bet-Ween its ends at.. any suit-py able point on the vehicle is a bell-crank lever 42, the lower short arm of which is pivotally connected with a longitudinally reciprocable bar 43, which has pivotal connection, as indicated at 44, with the upper-long arms of a site each of the six cylinders.

series of bell-crank levers 45 fulcrumed, as indicated at 45, to the bracket 34, one oppo- The short i arms of the bell-cranks 45 are pivotallyconnected, as through the medium of pins 46 Working in slots 47, with the lower extremi ties 48 of vertically reciprocable blocks 49 supported on the outer ends of the stems 37,

one Vof these blocks being located opposite each of. the exhaust-valve stems 19. The

members-48 are preferably in the form of a flat sprin for a. purpose hereinafter understood, an the blocks 49 preferably contain vertically disposed "undercut slots 50 which slidably engage with annular flanges 51.0n the outer ends of the stems 37 as illustrated in Fig. 5,.,whereb the blocks 49 are guidedl .when raisedfand owered as hereinafter described. One face `of each of the blocks 49V is inclined as represented at 52 and oppose blocks53 rigidly secured to the adjacent exhaust-valve stems 19, as illustrated of one in Figs. 4 and 5. The long arm of the bell` crank 42 is of yoke-shape as indicatedl at 54 and embraces a vertlcally reciprocable spring-'controlled plunger 55 passing through an opening 56 in the floor 10 of the car, and located preferably at such a point therein as to permit the operator to conveniently depress the same with his foot for a purpose hereinafter described.` The plunger carries two stops, 57 and 58 arranged respectivelyv above .and below the yoke 54 and Aadapted to alternately engage therewith in the reciprocatory movements of the plunger 55.

The parts of the starting"mechanism are normally in the positions illustrated in Fig. l, namely the plunger 55 is raised, and all of the cam-blocks 49 are elevated on their cooperating stems 37 to a position in which they are out of the path of movement of the blocks 53 during the reciprocating movements of the valve-stems 1 In the normal operation of the engine, namely While receiving its impulses `from the explosion of' gases supplied thereto, the tank 24 being in open communication with the cylinder 13, receives spent gases from this cylinderq and thus a supply 'of compressed fiuid is maintained in the tank, the coupling 30 being preferably provided with a ball-valve 59 operating to permit the introduction of the spent gases into the tank 24, but prevent their return to this cylinder, and the pipe 25V containing preferablya straight-way valve 60 of ordinary construction carrying a crank-arm 61 having slotted pin connection 62 with the plunger 55, this valve operating, when 1n normal positlon, tov

close the pipe 25, and afford open communi cation between the tank 24 and cylinder 13 'when the lever 61 is de ressed by the movement of the plunger 55 ownwardly throughout a portion only' of its stroke, namely before the member 57 is carried to a'position in which it rocks the lever 42 and to maintain such open communicationrbetween the tank 24 and the header `28 when the plunger '.55` is depressed sufficiently far to rock the lever 42 downwardly at its long arm. The

kconnection between the tank 24 and cylinder 13 is thereby rendered normally closed,

.but ma be opened by the operator at will to supp y gas to the tank 24, a'gage 63 connected with the pipe 25 by a' pipe 64 being provided for registering thel pressure in the tank 24. Whenthe engine comes to rest after the supply of combustible gas thereto is shut oil"at'least one of its exhau'sftfiv'alves will be open, and thus at least oney of the rods 19 will -be in raised position as represented of'the exhaust-valve of cylinder 13. To start the engine, the operator depresses the plunger 55 suiiiciently far to cause the member 57 to rock thebell1cranka42 downwardly at .its long arm, thereby shifting the bar 43 to' the right in Fig. 1, with the resutt of turning all of the bell-cranks 45 on their fulcrums 46 and drawing the -slort arms of these levers downwardly. Thus operating the levers 45 depresses all of the cam-blocks 49 and carries theminto the path of upward movement of the adjacent blocks 53. As one of the exhaust valves is open. asbefore stated, when the engine is at rest, the camblock 49 opposite this valve will, in the op eration of shifting the-rodv 43 to the right in Fig. 1 as "described, ride upon the adjacent block and force its coperating valve open, thusl permitting Huid-pressure to flowfrom the tank 24 and header 28 through the adjacent one ot' the pipes 29 and communicating ,pipe 41 into the cylinder in advance of it, the piston' ofwhich is in position to receive the impulse produced by the admission ot ythe compressed fluid-pressure into the cylinder,.andthe engine will thereupon beginfto operate. -Thus when the parts of the engine when at rest assume the positions illust-rated in Fig. 1, the lexhaust-valve of cylinder 13y is open and consequently the block53 ishra-ised, whereby thefrst impulse' will be com nmicated to the cylinder 14 by der 13. 'As the 'Stem' 19 of the exhaust-valve of cylinder 14 rises, it operates to open the valve opposite this cylinder and admit Huid-pressure. into'the cylinder 1,5, and so on throughout the series of cylinders as the crank-shaft continues to rotate.` It will thus be seen that so long as the operator holds the plunger 55 depressed, fluid-pressure will flow from the tank 24 into the cylinders in succession and the engine may be given the desired number of revolutions to effect its initial starting. l l

It will be manifest" from theforegoing description that 'when the parts of the starting m'eclianisni are?" in normal inoperative position, none Vof the parts thereof is subjected to'wear by engagement With any of the partsof the engine Which operate when the latter is operatinglnor'mally, and thus` Wear 'oi'fparts is reduced to 'the minimum.

closed :to the cylinders .open communication plied to.` a"G-cylinclerenginr. it is not limited .Y

between the pipes 41 and the interiors othe respective ,cylinders is maintained.

`While I haveillustrated my starter mechanism `as operated from the exhaust-valves of the engine, Ido not IWish-to be understood as intending tobevliinited to its operation inthis/manner, as, it-may beequally well operated from.' other, Afluidpressure-controlling -valves of the engine, viz.I the inlet-v galyes, lwhen the latter ",aremechanically operated. y Furthermore, while Iliave `illustratedl ,andfdescribed myinvcntion as apin its-:'Luseftheretm as itnniybe readilyrinqQlporafted'; in an engine et .any numberI of cyl inde'rs', 'e'i thermore `or Jless 1than .that ill ustrated,J p yded fin sdfa'i the .maintenated Huitl-pressure-controlling valves of thc vengine tor operating said first-named Valvepiechan1sm, and mechanical meansor cont-ure of my invention is concerned, any one or more of either of its mechanically-operated inletor exhaust-valves are in open position when th engine comes to rest.

. Theengine illustrated is of the .type in which the pistons in the cylinders receive their impulses in regular succession, viz., the piston of cylinder 14 is the next/to operate after the piston in cylinder 13, the piston incylinder 15 is then next to operate, and so on throughout the series of cylinders. lI do not wish to be understood, howeveras intending by such description and illustration to limit my invention to use in connection with an engine thus operating in regular succession, as it may be equally Well applied to engines in which the 'pistons in i adjacent cylinders operate in any other order than that described, in Which case thel connections with the cylinders of the fluidpressure conducting pipes leading from the waives 35 `would be altered accordingly, as

will be manifest. Furthermore, While I Y have shown my invention as embodied'in an engine, in which each cylinder thereofis adapted to be 4supplied with fluid-pressure tor starting the engine, I do not Wish tobe understood `as intending to limit my inventionto an engine in which eachl of the cyl- 'inders thereof is supplied with fluid-pressure for the starting purpose, as lless than the Whole number of the cylinders of la multiple-cylinder engine may beso supplied Without departing from the spirit of my invention. Y j

While'I have illustrated and described .a certain particular embodiment of my yinvention, I do not VWish to be understood as intending to limit it to such embodiment, as the construction shown may be variously modified without departing from thelspirit of my invention. V

- What I claim as new, andjes'ire to secure by Letters Patentg'is- 1. The combination With a ymultiple-cylinder internal'combustion engine, of enginel.starting mechanism therefor comprising -a supply of compressed luid-preure, nprmally closed valve-mechanism for controllingl the flow of fluid from said supply to the Ycylinders of the engine,`andmeans operated `by mechanically actua-ted fluid pressurecontrollingvalves Aof the engine tor opening [said first-named valve-mechanismpfor the purpose set forth.

2. The combinationwith .a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, or' `enginestarting mechanism therefor comprising a supply ot' compressed fluid-pressure, Valvemechanism for controlling the flow of fluid from said supply to the cylinders of the enf gine, means operated by mechanically-actutrolling the actuation of said first-named means for starting and stopping the enginelstarting mechanism.

3. The combination With amultiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, of enginef startingv mechanism thereforcomprismg a` `supply of compressed fluid-pressure, valvemechanism for controlling the flow of fluid from said supply to'the cylinders oftheenlo gine, means operated bymechanically-'actuated lfluid-pressure-controlling valves of `the vengine for operating said first-named valve- -mechanism, and means for'controlling the v'actuation of said tiret-named means for lstarting-and stopping the engine-starting` mechanism, the parts of said engine-starting mechanism, when in normal, vinoperative i position, being out -of engagement with the working parts of 'the' engine, for the purpose setfort.A v v 4. The combination'with a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, of' enginestarting `mechanism/therefor comprising a supply of compressed fluid-pressure, a plurallty of valves foncontrolling the flow of fluid from said fsupply to the cylinders of the engine, and devlces interposed between v said valves and mechanically-actuated iuidpressure-controlling valves of the engine and adjustable with relation to said valves,

. operating-when in a .certain position to control the actuation 'of said first-named valves by the movement of said engine-valves, for the purpose set forth.l

v 5. The comb'nation with a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, of enginestarting mechanism therefor, comprising a supply of compressed fluid-pressure, a plurality of reciprocatory `valves for control- 40 lingtheflow of iiuid-from said supply to the cylinders of theengine, and devices inter- ',posed between said valves and mechanicallyv actuated fluid-pressure-controllingvalves of the engine and adjustable Withrelation' to.

said valves, operating when in a certain psition to control the actuation of said firstgine-valves, for the purpose set forth. '6. Thecombination With va multi le-cylinder internal combustion engine,'o ,enginestarting mechanism' therefor comprisingl al supply of compressed Huid-pressure, a plurality of valves for controllin the flow of fluid from said supplyto the cy inders offtheV y engine, devices co'perating with said valves and adjustable With relationlthereto, and

.means actuated by mechanically-"actuated fluid-pressure-oontrolling valves of the engine 'adapted to engage with said adjustable devices Whenthe latter are 4in a certain position to control the'actuation of said firstnamed valves, for the purposeuset forth..

7 The-combination with a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, of ,enginestarting' mechanism therefor' comprislng av -ated fluid-pressure-controlling valves of the 'ling the flow of fluid from said supply tothe 4inder internal combustion engine, of enginestartlng mechamsm therefor comprislng a i `supply i of compressedy tluid-pressurev a plurality of normally closed reciprocaforyvalves for controlling the flow of fluid from v 'said supply-tothe cylinders of the'engine, y

and means operated by mechanically-operengine for moving, said'first-named valves to open position, for the purpose set forth,

8. The combination with. a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, of enginestarting -mechanismftberefor comprising a supply of compressed huid-pressure, a plurality vof reciprocatory valves for controllsupply of compressed fluid-pressure, a plu-'fl rality of valvesfor controlling .the fiowlaofl f fluid `from said. supply to the cylinders'of' j the engine, and 'cam-mechanism operatedby mechanicallyactuated fluid pressure-con- 95 trolling valves'oi:l theven ine for operating said first-named valves, or the purpose lset `forth. i 1Q. The combination with a multiple-cyl supply of compressed uid-p'ressure, a plurality of valves for controlling the ow` of fluid from said su ply' tothe cylinders of the engine, and adjustable cam-mechanism operated by lmechanically-operated V{inid-V pressure-controlling valves of the en 'ne for operating saidl first-named valves, or the purpose set forth.

11: The combination vvitha multiple-cyl- 1104 ,inder internal combustion engine, of enginei .starting mechanism therefor :comprising av lsupply of`compre'ssed fluid-pressure, a plul rality of reciprocatoryvalves for controlling the iovv` of fluid from sa1dsupply to ll the cylinders ofthe engine, and' cammecha .nism operated by "mechanically-actuated uidressure-controlling valves of the engine or operating said first-.named valves,

for the purpose set forth.4 120 12. The' combination with a multiple-'cylinder internal combustion engine, of 'enginevstarting mechanism therefor comprlslng a. su ply of compressed -luld-pressure,V a pluraiity-of ,reciprocatory' valves for control- 125 ling'the. flow of fluid from' said su ply to the 'cylinders of theengine, adjustab e cam- 4mechanism coperatin'g with said` valves,

anhd' means actuated .by mechanically-c erated,fluid-pressure-controlling valveso the engine adapted to engage with said adjustabe devices when the latter are in a certain position for opening said first-named valves for the purpose set forth.

' 13. ,The combination with multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, of' enginestarting mechanism therefor comprisingy a supply of compressed Huid-pressure, a plurality 'of valves for controlling they flow of iuid from said supply to the cylindersvof' the engine, and: cam-mechanism carried by `theistems of said yvalves and operated by mechanically actuated` fluid pressure controlling, valves of the engine for operating said .first-named valves, for-the purpose, setA inder internal combustionengine, of engine-- 14. The combination with .multiple-cylstarting -mechanism therefor `comprising a supply .of ,compressed fluid-pressure, a plu-l -rality of valves for controlling the Aflo-W `offluid from said supplyv ltothe cylinders of the engine, and adjustable cam-mechanism: carried by the stemsof said valves and operated by mechanically-actuated fluid-pressupply. of', compressed fluid-pressure, a plurality of reciproca-tory valves for controlling the flow offfluid from said supply tothecylinders of the engine, and cam' mechanism operated b`y mechanically actuated fluidpressure-controlling valves ofthe engine' for operatingsaid first-named valves, for the purpose set forth.

16. The combination with a multiple-cyl- .inder internal combustion engi/ne, o f. enginestarting mechanism. therefor comprising a supply of compressed fluid-pressure, a plurality of reciprocatory valves forcontrolling the liow ofiiuid from said supply tothe cylinders of the engine, adjustable cam-devices carried by the stems of said valves and coperating with the latter, and means actuated by mechanically operated fluid-pressure-controlling valves of the engine'adapted to engage with said adjustable devices Whenthe latter are in a certain position for` opening said first-named valves, for the purpose set forth. l

17. The combination 'with a multiple-cylinder internalcombustion engine, of enginerstarting mechanism therefor comprising a supply' of compressed fluid-pressure, a plurality of valves for controlling the flow of iuid from said supply to the cylinders of `the engine, and shiftable devices reciprocably mounted on the stems of said valves and adapted when shifted into a certainposition to be operated by mechanically-actuated fluid-pressure-controlling valves ofthe en-4 the iioW .of iiuid,r from Asaid supply Ito the` f `.cylinders of the engine, and shiftable devices f reclprocatorily mounted/on the stems of said valves vand adapted, when shifted into a certain position. tol be yoperated by mechanically actuated fluid -1 pressure controlling valves of'A the engine for, opening the valves' carryingithem, for the purpose set forth.

19. The combination With a multiple cylsu lv of com ressed fiuid- )rcssure valveu 1 mechanism for. controlling the `flow of fluid fromsaid supply to the cylindersof the engine`,.means operated by mechanically-actuated-Huidpressure-controlling valves of the engine `for operating said first-named valvemechanism, and lever-mechanism for constarting mechanism.

inder. internal ycombustion engineof engine-l starting mechanism therefor comprising a ysupply of compressed fluid-pressure,- a`plnr'ality of valves for controlling `the flow of' fluid-from said supply to the cylinders olf ,thev

engine, adjustable devices interposed between said valves and mechanically-actuated ,fluid-pressure-coiitiolling yvalves of the.

vsupply of compressed fluid-pressure, a lurality of valves for controlling the iiow of fluid from said supply to the cylinders of the engine, adjustable devices interposed between said valves and mechanically-actuated fluid-pressure-controlling valves of the engine, operating when in a certain osition to control the actuation of said first-named valves by the movement of vsaid venginevalves,. and means for adjusting said devices comprising a longitudinally shiftable member'anda series of levers connected therewith and operating, when'actuated, to adjust said devices."` 'I 22. The combination with a multiple-cylinder internal combustion engine, of enginestarting mechanism therefor comprising a supply 'of compressed fluid-pressure, a pluinder internal'combustionengine, of enginci ltrolling the actuation ofV said first-named lmeans for, startlngv and stopping the engine# i rality of Valves for controlling theflo`w of valves bythe movement of said engine- Huid from said supply to the cylinders Aof the engine, adjustable devices interposed between lsaid valves and mechanically-actu-- ated fluid-pressure-controlling valves of the engine, operating when in a certain position to control the actuation 'of said first-named.

valves, and means for adjusting saiddevices comprising a longitudinally shiftable meme ber, and a series of bell-crank levers connected therewith and operating, when actuated, to adjust said devices. l

23. The eombinationjwith 'a multiple-cylinder internal-combustion engine, of enginestarting mechanism therefor comprising aA supply of compressed' liuidpressure,a plu-- rality of valves for controlling the flow of gine operating, when in acertain position, to control the actuation of said first-named fluid from said supply to the cylinders of the engine, reciprocatory devices finterposed between said valves and mechanically-actuated iluid-pressure-controllingvalves of the envalves 'by movement of said engine-valves,

and means for shifting said devices com-A prising a series of levers connected together and operating, when actuated, to shift said devices. Y

24. The combination with a multiple-cylinder internal combustion` engine having mechanically operated fluid pressure controlling valves formedwith oi'set portions,-

o f engine-starting mechanism therefor comprising a supply of fluid-pressure, a plurality of valves for cont-rolling the flow of ltluid from said supplyl to the cylinders of the engine, and means interposed betweenv said lastreferred to valves and said' otli'set-v portions Vand actuated through the medium of the latter by the 'movement of said first.

rality of valves for controlling the flow ofv lluid from' said supply to the cylinders 'of the engine, and adjustable devices interposed between said. last referred to valves and said .oHset-portions and adapted when occupying a certain position to be actuated through .the medium of theofset-portions of said valves by the movement of said first referred to Valves, for the purpose set forth.

-valves for operating said enginestarter v HERBERT M. HALLSWORTH.

` In presence ofev R. A.-SGHAEEER, JOHN WILSON.

Copies of .thisv patent may be obtained for ve cents eacn, by addressing thef Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

